Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874- October 20, 1964)
(1929- 1933)
Republican
Vice President: Charles Curtis
Herbert Hoover was a pretty average president. He didn’t do a lot to help the country, but he didn’t do much to hurt it either. For a presidency that wasn’t necessary but wasn’t necessarily harmful, Herbert Hoover deserves a C+.
One of Hoover’s goals was to continue prosperity with lower taxes; however, this prosperity did not occur as he entered his presidency the same year as the stock market crash and later went through the Great Depression. A second goal, which was to help the farmers, was achieved through the creation of the Federal Farm Board which lent money to farmers.
Over time, Hoover’s relationship with Congress became worse. As the Great Depression worsened, Hoover took most of the blame and began to lose more and more supporters. During his presidency, he passed the Agricultural Marketing Act, Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, the Federal Home Loan Bank Act, and the Revenue Act of 1932. He had a total of 37 vetoes, including the Bonus Bill of 1931 and the Muscle Shoals Bill.
Hoover’s greatest achievement would probably be the creation of the Federal Farm Board. During his presidency farmers were in debt. The Federal Farm Board supplied loans to the farmers and helped to promote the sale of agricultural goods. It didn’t solve all of the problems, but it gave some desperately needed help to the farmers.
His worst action would’ve been the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. This Act was passed by Hoover with somewhat good intentions. He wanted to help America by promoting the sale of American goods. He tried to do this by greatly raising tariffs on foreign goods. However, the Act did not work as planned and plunged America deeper into the depression. (On a side note, this Act is believed by many that this is a cause of the stock market crash and the Great Depression, although this is chronologically impossible.)
The only actions Hoover had on the future of America were his actions dealing with the taxes, such as the Revenue Act of 1932, which eventually helped America to slowly crawl out of the Depression.
Hebert Hoover wasn’t a very unique president. He wasn’t a Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, or Grant that the country needed during the Great Depression, but fortunately, he wasn’t a Buchanan, Bush, or Nixon either. And for this amazing feat of mediocrity, Hoover deserves a C+.
Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874- October 20, 1964)
(1929- 1933)
Republican
Vice President: Charles Curtis
Herbert Hoover was a pretty average president. He didn’t do a lot to help the country, but he didn’t do much to hurt it either. For a presidency that wasn’t necessary but wasn’t necessarily harmful, Herbert Hoover deserves a C+.One of Hoover’s goals was to continue prosperity with lower taxes; however, this prosperity did not occur as he entered his presidency the same year as the stock market crash and later went through the Great Depression. A second goal, which was to help the farmers, was achieved through the creation of the Federal Farm Board which lent money to farmers.
Over time, Hoover’s relationship with Congress became worse. As the Great Depression worsened, Hoover took most of the blame and began to lose more and more supporters. During his presidency, he passed the Agricultural Marketing Act, Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, the Federal Home Loan Bank Act, and the Revenue Act of 1932. He had a total of 37 vetoes, including the Bonus Bill of 1931 and the Muscle Shoals Bill.
Hoover’s greatest achievement would probably be the creation of the Federal Farm Board. During his presidency farmers were in debt. The Federal Farm Board supplied loans to the farmers and helped to promote the sale of agricultural goods. It didn’t solve all of the problems, but it gave some desperately needed help to the farmers.
His worst action would’ve been the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. This Act was passed by Hoover with somewhat good intentions. He wanted to help America by promoting the sale of American goods. He tried to do this by greatly raising tariffs on foreign goods. However, the Act did not work as planned and plunged America deeper into the depression. (On a side note, this Act is believed by many that this is a cause of the stock market crash and the Great Depression, although this is chronologically impossible.)
The only actions Hoover had on the future of America were his actions dealing with the taxes, such as the Revenue Act of 1932, which eventually helped America to slowly crawl out of the Depression.
Hebert Hoover wasn’t a very unique president. He wasn’t a Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, or Grant that the country needed during the Great Depression, but fortunately, he wasn’t a Buchanan, Bush, or Nixon either. And for this amazing feat of mediocrity, Hoover deserves a C+.
“Herbert Hoover (1874-1964).” Miller Center of Public Affairs. 2008. University of Virginia. 3 December 2008. <http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/hoover/essays/biography/3>
“Herbert Hoover.” The White House. Washington. 3 December 2008. <__http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/hh31.html__>.
“Herbert Hoover Inaugural Address.” Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents. 4 March 1929. Bartleby. 2 December 2008. <http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres48.html>.